Things to do

Worth your time

Playa La Ropa, slowly — The bay’s best beach and the thing most people come for. Calm water, a full day of eating and swimming, and a sunset that earns its reputation. Rank it first because it is the core of the trip, not a side quest.

Boat over to Playa Las Gatas — A short panga ride across the bay drops you at a protected, shallow beach with the best easy snorkeling in the area. Reef fish, calm water, a row of seafood shacks. Half a day, and the boat ride is part of the fun.

Eat your way down the malecon and market — The seafood scene is a genuine reason to be here. Treat it as an activity, not just meals. See the food page for specifics.

A fishing morning — Zihua is still a real fishing town, and going out with a panga captain at dawn for sailfish, dorado, or a modest reef haul is the most authentic thing you can do here. Not cheap, but the real deal.

Snorkel or dive trips — The diving off Zihua and nearby Ixtapa Island is solid rather than world-class. Good for a first dive or an easy snorkel outing; do not expect Cozumel.

Overrated or skippable

• Ixtapa’s resort strip — Fine if you are staying there, but a wide, breezy, high-rise beach is not why you came to Zihua. Do not spend a day just to see it.
• Pushy booze cruises and party boats — Oversold on the malecon. The DIY panga to Las Gatas gives you more for less.
• Souvenir stalls near the pier — Fine for a hat, but not the shopping “experience” the touts pitch.

Honest ranking

La Ropa, then Las Gatas, then the food scene, then a fishing morning. Everything else is optional.